Proposals to strengthen and modernise Australian privacy law

Following release of the Privacy Act Review Report by the Attorney-General on 16 February 2023, the Australian Government is seeking feedback from members of the public, and public and private entities.

The Privacy Act Review Report was informed by feedback received in response to an Issues Paper released in October 2020 and a Discussion Paper, released in October 2021. The Privacy Act Review Report contains 116 proposals to strengthen and modernise Australian privacy law. They raise complex policy issues that affect individuals and public and private entities.

On March 24, Outdoors Queensland made a submission on behalf of the outdoor sector to the Attorney-General’s Department of the Australian Government on the proposed changes outlined in the Privacy Act Review Report.

Excerpt

Outdoors Queensland supports many of the proposed changes outlined in the Privacy Act Review Report. However, we have concerns regarding unintended consequences associated with the removal of the Small Business Exemption set out in Proposal 6.1 and 6.2.

The vast majority of outdoor organisations in Queensland (and across Australia) are small businesses.

On page 52, the Privacy Act Review Report states that “The Issues Paper sought feedback on whether the current scope of the Act strikes the right balance between protecting the privacy rights of individuals and imposing unnecessary regulation on small business.”

We submit that removal of the small business exemption will impose unnecessary regulation, and for that reason this exemption should not be removed from the Privacy Act.

Download / Read our full Submission

To make a submission go to Survey & Submissions (Closes March 31)

To learn more, go to:

• Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report
• 2023 Privacy Act Review Report (PWC)